“With 80 companies responding, the PMPA Business Trends Index for November 2018 declined 11 points to 130,which was (still) an all-time high for the month of November! Shops reporting sales declines outnumbered those reportinggains by a ratio of 4:1- not at all unexpected considering the seasonality of shipments this time of year. The Business TrendsSales Index remains on track to close the year up 8% over 2017.“- PMPA Business Trends Report for November 2018

Though down eleven points from October’s high, PMPA’s November Business Trends Index remains unseasonably strong.

Outlook for next three months:

Net Sales: The sales outlook resumes positive expectations for the next three months despite seasonalfactors.

Lead Times:Eighty- six percent of respondents expect lead times to remain the same or increase in thenext three months.

Employment:Prospects for employment continue to be positive with ninety-seven percent (97%) expectinglevel or increased opportunities for employment.

Profitability:Eighty-five percent of our respondents expect business and margins to remain strong for thenext three months, just a slight decline from the prior month.

In our April report we forecast that our index of sales would finish the year at 135, up 8% over calendar year 2017. As of this November report, we are at 135, up 8 percent over 2017 with just one month to go.

Welcome to our blog, Speaking of Precision. As Director of Technology and Industry Research for PMPA, I bring 38 years of hands-on experience in areas of manufacturing, quality and steelmaking. I help answer "HOW?","WITH WHAT?" and "REALLY?"